Father facing murder charge after son left in car dies

Brokale Lytte Marques, 28, is accused of leaving his son in a car with the air conditioning and the vehicle running Saturday afternoon while he was at work. (Source: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (CBS5) -

A Phoenix man is facing a second-degree murder charge in his 1-year-old son's death after the boy was left in a hot car while he went to work.

A police spokesman said the boy died at Scottsdale Healthcare-Shea Hospital after he was taken off life support about 10:30 p.m. Monday.

Brokale Lytte Marques, 28, was in court Tuesday morning in reference to the murder charge, the spokesman said.

Marques had been in jail on a $25,000 bond after he was arraigned Monday on initial charges of child abuse and endangerment.

Marques is accused of leaving his son in a car Saturday near the Scottsdale Quarter shopping district before finding him lethargic, said Scottsdale Officer David Pubins. According to the police report, the child was unconscious and hyperventilating.

Marques flagged down security personnel about 2 p.m. Saturday at the shopping district near Scottsdale Road and the Greenway-Hayden Loop and told them his child was slow to respond after being left in the car since 9 a.m., Pubins said.

According to the police report, Marques said he woke up at 8:30 a.m. realizing he had to work. Marques said he was running late and did not have time to take his son to the babysitter. Police said the child had only a half cup of water before Marques took him with to work at International Cruise and Excursions located at 15501 N. Dial Blvd. He left his infant son in the car seat while the car was still running, Pubins said.

About 11 a.m., the father drove his son to a nearby Burger King for lunch and said the child was fine at that point, Pubins said.

According to the police report, Marques and his son arrived back to his work parking lot between 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Marques told police he did not believe it was good for the car's engine to be left running for an extended period of time so he decided to turn the car off. He said he believed the car was cool enough for the child. He left the windows rolled up and the doors locked with his son inside when he returned to work.

He came out at about 2 p.m. to find his son unconscious with vomit on him. Police said Marques attempted to drive his son to a hospital but said he couldn't find one so he drove to the Scottsdale Quarter at 15279 N. Scottsdale Rd. and found a security officer who called 911.

During an interview with police Monday night, Marques said he was required to work one Saturday a month and he claimed he forgot it was his required Saturday. He said he was unable to drive to Glendale and leave the child with the babysitter so he decided to take the child to work and tried to locate a babysitter using CraigsList while driving to work, the police report stated.

Marques told police he was worried if he missed worked he'd get fired, but one of the managers told police he would not be fired if he was late to work or had childcare issues.

Employees at Marques' work said there are covered parking spots available for employees but Marques parked offsite.

Detectives also learned in November 2012, Marques parked outside of work with the engine running and a security officer found a woman and baby inside. The woman said they were OK and were waiting for Marques to finish work.

Police interviewed the boy's babysitter, who said she was expecting him on Saturday.

She said for the past two months, every Saturday except for one, Marques dropped off his son, Markale, at the babysitter's house and the babysitter knew it was Marques' mandatory Saturday to be at work.

The babysitter also told police that Marques had brought the child to her house last Wednesday and did not pick him up that night. Her husband worked with Marques and told Marques that he had not brought enough food or diapers for his child. Marques said he'd bring the food and diapers over first thing after work but did not bring the supplies, pick his son up or even call the sitter to say he would not be coming over, according to the report.

Marques' brother said he spoke with his brother Friday and they discussed a birthday party at 3 p.m. Saturday. Marques' brother said he could have babysat the boy.

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